Pinwheels planted in York to draw attention to child abuse

Children's Advocacy Center highlights issue for awareness month.

Cameron McQuay, 16, his sister, Sydney, 14, and brother, Eric, 12, planted the last few pinwheels in a garden of more than 1,000 at the corner of George Street and Rathton Road in York Monday morning.

Cameron said he helped on Sunday as the colorful array of pinwheels, each a symbol of a child reported as having been abused, was created. Drivers going by honked their horns, and some offered a thumbs up, he said.

"Child abuse is bad for the community and not good for the kids," Cameron said.

The York County Children's Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that works with alleged victims of abuse, planted its first pinwheel garden to highlight Child Abuse Awareness Month in April and draw attention to the issue in York County.

The pinwheels spinning in the grassy area at the city intersection across from York Hospital represent the 1,113 children reported as having experienced abuse in York County in 2010, said Deborah Harrison, executive director of the center.

The pinwheels are meant to be a colorful symbol of a carefree childhood, something the center wishes for every child in York County, she said.

York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said the importance of the efforts of the Children's Advocacy Center are evident in situations like last week, when a young child witnessed a homicide.

On Thursday, a 5-year-old girl witnessed the fatal stabbing of her pregnant mother, Olga Vascones-Garcia, in the lobby of the Super 8 Motel in Manchester Township, police said. Police charged Wilkins Gerard Marte-Escano with one count each of criminal homicide and criminal homicide of an unborn child.

Harrison said the Children's Advocacy Center hasn't been involved in that case, but interviews children who are alleged victims of sexual abuse, extreme physical abuse or witnesses to violent crimes.

Sydney McQuay, of Manchester Township, places a pinwheel for child abuse prevention month, at the corner of Rathton Road and South George Street in York. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL )

Forensic interviewers on staff are trained to elicit the needed information without increasing the child's trauma, she said, and the center enables a child to be able to give one interview for multiple agencies.

The center is child friendly, too, she said, so kids don't have to give interviews in the district's attorney's office or a police station.

Dr. David Turkewitz, medical director of the York County Children's Advocacy Center and chairman of the department of pediatrics at York Hospital, said good things are happening in York County, including the work of the center and the Nurse-Family Partnership that offers support to young mothers.

A new grant will help bring the Front Porch Project, which aims to teach citizens how to recognize abuse and react, to the area. Also, the state Legislature recently approved a task force on child abuse, Turkewitz said.

"Awareness is the first step," he said.

About the garden

The York County Children's Advocacy Center planted a garden of 1,113 pinwheels, each representing a child reported as having experienced abuse in York County in 2010, at Rathton Road and George Street in York on Monday.

Community members can sponsor a pinwheel for $10. Donors can specify a program their donation will support or let the center choose the area of greatest need.

Visit www.yorkcac.org to sponsor a pinwheel.

If you suspect abuse

To report child abuse, call the Pennsylvania ChildLine: 800-932-0313.

About Darisabel

One of York County's more infamous cases of abuse involved the death of Darisabel Baez. The aftermath helped to focus the community on the issues of child abuse.

Also of interest

From left, Dr. David Turkewitz, medical director of the York County Children's Advocacy Center, and county District Attorney Tom Kearney, county Commissioner Doug Hoke, York Mayor Kim Bracey and Deb Chronister, director of York County Children, Youth and Families, attended the pinwheel garden ceremony Monday. ( YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL )

York County's pinwheel garden at the corner of Rathton and South George Street in York is designed to draw attention to prevention of child abuse. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL)

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